QueenC

Well said Jaded...... And congratulations to Adam on showing so much courage in the face of adversity, and for making his way back to where he wants to be. Good luck (he could do with some) to him for his future both on and off the field

So that would be the very southern subs there Graz?!!!

No, I am in the northern suburbs - Epping. I don't go over to the inner east as much, since I finished work at Fox Studios....... And I try to avoid the eastern distributor if at all possible !!!

She was a cheerleader for the Newcastle Knights rugby league team prior to being Miss Universe !!!

Thanks for your kind words Jezza but I don't know if I can help you too much with this....... The last time I drove past the SCG (a while ago now as I am not on that side of the city), there was a light tower lying on its side on Driver Avenue !!! I read that they are running some kind of night test-run, that is at some point this week, to make sure that the substitute lighting is up to scratch. If it isn't the AFL is definitely able to move the game to Homebush without worrying about The SCG Trust given the type of contract the Swans have with it (something about the number of games to be played the SCG v's Telstra). But what is a fact is that there is a real problem between the Swans, The SCG Trust and the AFL, mostly due to the re-development of the ground, and this lighting issue is just the tip of the iceberg, given that there is now a growing amount of talk about the need for compensation to the club because of (a fairly large) loss of revenue. And with that I am done for the night......

Apropos of this, apparently it was purely the fact that the apparent slight was against his daughter that got Headland so riled up. He said that if the same sledge had been used against other members of his family or his partner then that was fine.

Me neither, but my dad has never felt the need to apologise to me for never giving me a choice !!! Being the first born and being wrapped in red and blue at a very young age left me with little resistance...... Not that I would change a thing :D !!!

This is actually the third top class sports person brought down by a severe neck injury following Andrew Johns and Brendan Cannon. Both of which had their careers in league and union respectively, ended. Hopefully Nick Stevens will have the best treatment he can get and make a full recovery. I wish him all the best.

Oh occo, you were making a funny there, right :D ?!!!

Congratulations to Cameron on his 150th Game...... Lets hope for a big game and a big celebration of a big win :D !!!

See I differ enormously here and while I understand your point I think that the AFL are just trying to push the whole situation under the carpet. I don't see it as a guilty by proxy finding on Selwood. And this was quite obviously the simplest and easiest way to do just that. They could never have found Selwood guilty (unlike many armchair viewers) given there was no independent evidence and emphatic denials, and therefore to water down any further conflict they let Headland off as well. And just for what its worth, I don't trust Headland either, or not as much as a lot of people seem to. He has a short fuse and a bad record. I am not sure why his assertions are any more automatically believable than Selwoods protests of innocence. But that is what has happened all over the place. And while I am sure Selwood said something, probably inappropriate in the light of day, I definitely don't think he deserved the absolute assumption of guilt and mud raking that has been applied to him on the back of nothing more than Headlands statement, which seems to have a hell of a lot of holes. I feel sorry for him as well Rhino (innocent until proven guilty and all that), and while I can see this happening, I don't think it will...... I would imagine that Adam Selwood would like nothing more than to put this whole week, and everything that has been said and written about him and what he has been accused of, in the past. He may well feel gutted and hurt by it all, but I truly can't see anything legal coming out of it.

Great post Graz and I agree with your sentiments, but this jumped out at me especially. To me, and I am sure plenty of people here will disagree, the majority of players are neither stars nor duds, they are just players. Is it important, or wonderful, to have that single element of greatness in your side? Of course it is, but that still leaves everyone else, and there is plenty of room between the two extremes, and frankly most players fall into that middle ground, some are better than others but it is up to them and the coaching staff to work through their personal shortcomings (which most if not all have, including bouts of poor form and injury) and weaknesses to try and make as valuable a contribution as they can to the side. But as you say working your ass off for your team, whether successful or not, seems to get a bit lost in the quest for the holy grail, and you are right in saying that if there are blinkers on to everything else besides a Premiership (not denying the frustration of so many years) then you lose a hell of a lot of what actually makes footy great. Don't get me wrong, winning is great and can, as has been said, make or break a weekend, but it is not the only thing. Which brings me to this..... Beautifully said CarnTheDees...... You are so right, seeing your team fight tooth and nail as a unit for the same goal is always a great thing to witness. If you still lose then be upset and even angry, but realise that this is sport and there is always a loser (like it or not), it is just that it is easier to deal with a loss if you can see your team scrapping and fighting together, because it gives you a reason to come back the next week to see if the "team performance" will eventually succeed. I can handle losing, supporting any sports team you have to be able to, but the way the team plays in that loss that should count for something. Anyway, I would never condemn this team to hell for its start to the season, as bad as it has been...... As the only way is up and hopefully we will see that improvement in all aspects of the game asap. Just my opinion !!!

That seems to be a remarkably accurate description there grazman according to some of the media reports. Although I think you made Chick sound a little too lucid !!! Carr cleared of striking charge April 18, 2007 FREMANTLE midfield player Josh Carr was tonight cleared of a charge of striking West Coast's Daniel Chick, after the Eagle modified his evidence during the tribunal hearing....... .........Chick initially told the tribunal that he was punched by Carr in the back slightly below his ribs during the first five minutes of Saturday's match at Subiaco and said the blow had left him incapacitated for several minutes He said he left the field for the interchange bench shortly after. But, under cross-examination from Grant Donaldson SC, representing Carr, Chick conceded he couldn't remember whether the incident occurred before or after his spell on the bench, which lasted about six minutes......... .........The jury took only about 10 seconds to deliberate before announcing the charge was not sustained. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,2...3-23211,00.html What a truly extraordinary night at the tribunal !!!

And denied emphatically. Headland doesn't get a free pass to smack anyone just because he thinks he heard what he thinks he heard.

Yep, the can is open and there are worms all over the place !!!

Well said Jaded..... Upset Eagle cleared by: Paul Gough ........But despite not accepting Headland's version of events, the jury still did not impose the six-match suspension on Headland that he was facing for the resultant two striking charges against Selwood. Instead he is clear to play this week, despite being found guilty of one striking charge and for wrestling Selwood after the jury ruled there were 'exceptional and compelling circumstances' behind his actions......... http://www.sportal.com.au/football.asp?i=news&id=97396

Not just border jumpers KrazyJay and I undertand your plight perfectly....... But also those of us who have never lived in Melbourne, but still support the Dees. Your thanks to the folk here on Demonland is exactly how I feel about the situation I have up here. It is all Swans all the time, if you want to read the AFL, if not there is plenty of rugby league to pass the time if you are so inclined!!! And this site is used in this house to gain any information or opinion given there is a complete black hole of Melbourne club info in the Sydney press. So thanks to those here for their info is it always greatly appreciated. And I look forward to some of you coming to town to hopefully see a win in a couple of weeks :D !!!

Selwood was always going to be cleared, it really was their only option given the "he said-he said" state of the argument, with no corroborating evidence. But Headland still hit him, on numerous occasions, so why is he clear to play? They have just condoned his violent reaction and said that if someone says something mean to you, you can beat the crap out of them.

Thus condoning his violent reaction?

Selwood has been cleared saying that he did not use the word "[censored]" and that he did not know he was making a comment about Headlands 6-year-old daughter when he made the comments. It was said that he was believable and there was no other corroborating evidence to prove Headlands claims about what was actually said. The decision came very quickly. But his reputation has certainly taken a heavy hit this week.

Apropos and urrgh...... Moloney adds to Demons' wounded By Greg Denham April 18, 2007 AN epidemic of injuries is threatening to derail a winless Melbourne's season less than a month in. The Demons' woes have deepened further with midfield player Brent Moloney likely to be sidelined for some time after aggravating his osteitis pubis. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,2...4-23211,00.html

And after posting this I am going to bed....... League talks but Coast won't listen By Patrick Smith April 18, 2007 AT last count talkback radio callers threw 275 punches between the hours of 9am and noon yesterday. They were full-blooded whacks, too. Smash, wham, bang. Talkback host Kevin Bartlett from Melbourne's SEN took the calls in response to the Adam Selwood affair, which will be settled by the AFL tribunal tonight........

Apropos...... He Hit Me First - Selwood

I am sure there would be an official function Demonator...... But I am in Sydney and therefore it is rare when there are so many Demon fans in town. Just being friendly !!!

I am not one to pick arguments around here, but thank goodness someone on here has a little more perspective..... Selwood has publicly denied saying what has been reported that he said, a fact that was unfortunately brushed passed pretty quickly on here. But throughout the media across the country and on sites like this across the AFL I have no doubt whatsoever that there is an automatic presumption of his guilt. For example:- So what makes Headland's account of events any more believable than Selwoods? Is it because Headland reacted the way he did? And please tell me that is not the factor given his track record and well known short fuse. Or is there something innately more believable about his story? I particularly liked the family photo in the paper (and I am in Sydney) today......that wasn't at all manipulative. Or does it have something to do with the fact that Selwood is from West Coast, and they are all automatically bad seeds? IF he did say it, does that mean Selwood condones the act? I would think not, and Bob is right no-one does, so that argument is a little redundant. But I try to hold off condemning anyone before all the facts are in. And please, for heavens sake, don't try to paint this position as me condoning paedophilia or sexual exploitation or the abuse of it verbally, of any kind, as I have more knowledge and experience of this than most. And while I am sure he said something that [censored] Headland off and IF he said what has been reported then it was an appalling, if effective, choice of a sledge. But that is it.